Summer residents records
second ace at Koronis Hills

By Michael Jacobson

Steve Schwarz of St. Joseph, whose family owns a home on Windmill Point on Lake Koronis, recorded his second career hole in one when he aced the par-3, 134-yard #4 at Koronis Hills Golf Club on Tuesday, June 6.

Schwarz, a native of Wabasso, previously had recorded a hole in one in Sanborn, Minn., in 2001.

Playing at Koronis Hills, where they are members, with his wife Leah Klocker, Schwarz hit a high shot with his 60-degree lob wedge at the green. The hole was playing downwind, which was blowing slightly left to right, which pushed the shot right at the pin.

Steve Schwarz of St. Joseph, whose family owns a home on Lake Koronis, aced the par-3, 134-yard #4 at Koronis Hills Golf Club on Tuesday, June 6, using a 60-degree lob wedge.

"I knew it was going to be really close," he said. "When I hit it that high, it doesn't roll, but I knew if it would roll it would have a chance."

His ball landed about three feet in front of the pin and rolled into the hole. Steve and Leah saw the ball go in from the tee. His first reaction, he said, was "disbelief. My wife said she wanted to yell, but she didn't want to screw up anybody's shot, so she didn't."

Schwarz, a management professor at St. John's University, played baseball in high school but started working for a golf course while earning his master's degree in Montana. He still works part-time in the pro shop of a golf course by Cross Lake.

An 11-handicapper, he plays more frequently in the summer, when school's out, maybe three or four times per week.

His ace helped him shoot 38 that day, a good score for him.

With this ace, #4 has yielded more holes in one (eight) since the KHGC course expanded to 18 holes in 1997 than any hole. Next is #17 (seven), followed by #7 (six), #13 (four), and #10 (two).

Before the course expanded, #4 yielded three times as many holes in one (31) as #10 (11). Both #4 (originally #7) and #10 (originally #9) were renumbered during expansion.